Earth Day is upon us. Which means it’s once again time to pay homage to Mother Nature by swapping out inefficient light bulbs and adopting rain forests. But as you get back to work after hitting that “green” happy hour, are there even more ways to help the environment while building your business.
One way to comfort and nurture Mother Nature is by hiring a remote freelancer for your next project. You’ll be surprised (perhaps amazed?) at how much more environmentally friendly online workers are, as opposed to “on-premise” staffers. Here are 4 reasons why hiring an online freelancer will make a huge impact on our global footprint:
1. Fuel savings
Today some 4% of the population works remotely, but it’s estimated that 40% could do so easily without any performance impact. If all 40% worked remotely, in the US alone we could save 587 million barrels of oil annually.
2. Cost savings
Similarly, as a nation we could save $52 million at the pump each year.
3. Greenhouse gas reduction
As long as we’re on the subject, an increase in remote work would significantly decrease greenhouse gases. How much? Think 101 million metric tons of CO2 per year.
4. Infrastructure relief
We’ll save billions annually by taking the pressure off aging roads and transportation services used by commuters.
Yes, Mother Nature will thank you. And your workers will thank you too. Why? Because they’ll be smiling as well from working wherever. By working remotely, each worker will save an average of 26 work days annually (that’s like getting 5 extra weeks of vacation).
It’s no wonder more and more workers are going to online workplaces like Elance-oDesk to find jobs that allow for remote jobs. Especially Generation Y workers who can’t picture themselves tethered to a desk 9 to 5. Just ask your team how important remote work is to them. In a recent survey, 36% of full-time staffers report that they would take a 10% pay cut if they were allowed to work remotely. That’s a big number.
So on your next project, when you’re thinking about bringing that web programmer or graphic designer into your work space to have face time, think again. Hire a freelancer and allow them to work remotely. You’ll love it, your worker will love it, and Mother Nature will love you both.